Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-04-28
Poultry for Profit.
MRS. D. D. WEBSTER, PoRTL AND, O.

Poultry for Profit.
MRS. d. D. WEBSTER, PoRIL AND, O.
(The National StOckman and Farmer,
of Pittsburgh, Pa, offered prizes for the
best article on the above subject, there
being: fifty-six in competition. Mrs
writer, and the Poultry Fraternity are
greatly indebted to her for SO much prac
tical information on so an important sub
ject.)
i A subject that more universally con
| Germs the entire rural and suburban popu
lation of this great country could scarcely
be named than "The Profits, of Poultry
Raising, for the reason that it il
of paramount importance from CONNER
cial point of view, SO much as that the
raising of poultry is, on alarger or smaller
scale engaged in by every farmer and
small townsman in the land, while the
poultry product, including the table sup
ply of fowls and eggs, and the number
of each sold, forms no small item in the
domestic economy of every household
In view of the above facts, the subiec!
becomes intensified by the query: How
can the maximum OF, profit in raising poul-
try be attained? Now there are two things
which form the basis of value in poultry
the size of the fowl, and the number of
of eggs it can be made to produce il a
given time. But as it is impossible to
get the greatest number of eggs from the
largest fowl, and as it will not do to sac
ri6ce one essential point of excellence
wholly to the other, it follows, that a
breed is best for plofit, that combines, as
nearly as possible, each of the good quail
/ tiles before indicated. While I do not
desire to be understood as intimating a
preserence for any Of the many desirable
breeds, I do wish to record myself in
favor of the pure breeds as decidedly in
the lead for profit; while the hints and
suggestions pertaining to the care and
management of fowls in general, as con-
tanned in this essay, are Intended to ap-
ply with equal force to any breed.
| AS it Is the usual custom for farmers
to allow fowls the range of the farm, and
as such q course is probably the most
practicable, l shall treat the subjec.
accordingly. In order to have place to
| begin, SO as to know when / am through,
[ will suppose the time to be the 1st of
February in any given year. After hav-
ing made selection of an all purpose
breed, or concluded to breed common
barnyard fowls, as the case may be, mate
one vigorous young male to every ten
females. If possible, set the hens for all
the chicks you wish to raise at the same
time, and the earlier the better after the
1st of April. The object in having them
come off in large numbers is two-fold-
you can give all the chicks to half the
hens, and besides, it is little more trouble
to attend to 100 chicks than half that
number. Put the hens and chicks in
coops with at least one tightly closed
end, and partially tight rooted, SO as to
protect them from beating storms. Feed
chicks several times during the day with
corn bread made up with water and baked
dry, the bread moistened with sweet milk.
Give nothing sour at any time, and avoid
over feeding. For change, feed midi
lings cake prepared in the same way.
may be almost entirely supplemented
with screenings if desirable, or may be
continued until chicks are large enough
to swallow whole corn, oats, etc. Always
furnish an abundance of pure water, and
change the vessel every time before Civ
ing water.
By observing scrupulous cleanliness in
feeding and watering young chicks, and
keeping free from lice, one will seldom, if
ever, be troubled with gapes. To keep
free of lice, when chicks are first Matched,
grease the head and around the neck with
an ointment made of Scotch snuff or
powdered tobacco and lard. Rub q lib
eral quantity on the old hen under wings,
but never put any grease about hen
while sitting, or eggs will not hatch. If
more convenient, sulphur ointment will
answer quite as we'll as the tobacco to rid
them of lice. Sprinkle sulphur in nests
where hens are sitting, to rout the YER
min.
Give generous allowance of grain
daily, SO as to maintain a steady growth
until say November L. Then, if you
have market for dressed poultry, select
as many of your choicest pullets as you
may want for layers, and as many old
hens as you wish for mothers hext year,
and one male for each lot of ten females;
then behead every other chicken on the
place as fast as you can find sale for
them. Dress every fowl before market
ing. It will pay you. In any event, keep
fowls not later than the holidays. While
better prices will rule daring Lent, the
extra price will not pay for the keep. My
observation always has been that there is
more clear money in the early market
than any other.
By September 1, if liberal feeding has
been kept up throughout the summer, and
the diet has been of corn, oats, wheat,
etc., in proper variety. early pullets and
old hens having recovered from noult
ing, ought to begin to lay. For the reason
that from now until tie first of next May
eggs will command the best prices of the
year, and because from the supply of eggs
We look for much the largest share of the
income from poultry, every effort should
now be made to increase the product to
the last egg possible. The foundation
for a generous supply has already been
laid by the generous feeding above re-
ferred to. Now give your hens the neces-
sary material to make eggs, and you will
not be disappointed. Burn all the old
bones and break them fine; get oyster
shells, or mussel shells, and burn them;
puIverize and take raw limestone and
break as fine as peas, and put with the
| bone and shells, and have convenient
where fowls can visit at pleasure. From
these they make the shells. Feed wheat,